Vizquel ponders eligibility for Hall

7/7/2013

BY SHELDON OCKERAKRON BEACON JOURNAL

Former Cleveland Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel finished his career with 2,877 hits, 404 stolen bases, and 1,445 runs. Like Ozzie Smith, who already is in the hall, Vizquel has strong credentials as a defensive shortstop.

CLEVELAND — Omar Vizquel retired as a player after last season, so it will be almost five more years before he is eligible to be elected to the baseball Hall of Fame.

He says it’s not something he thinks about often, but certainly it has crossed his mind.

“I think my numbers are there,” he said. “But guys have their opinions. There are players with 3,000 hits who haven’t been elected, so I question myself. Obviously, I’m not going to be elected the first time around, but I have some numbers to argue.”

Vizquel was not known for his offense, but he finished his career with 2,877 hits, 404 stolen bases, and 1,445 runs. Like Ozzie Smith, who already is in the hall, Vizquel has strong credentials as a defensive shortstop.

He won 11 Gold Gloves, the last when he was 39, and appeared in three All-Star Games.